Here’s the new Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She’s Kristy Mussman, a 19-year-old college student from Claremont, MN. Her crowning took place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
As Princess Kay, Mussman, who represents Steele County, will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s nearly 5,000 dairy farmers.
Kristy is the daughter of Mike and Julie Mussman of Claremont, and is a student at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul majoring in applied economics with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in mass communications.
One of Mussman’s first duties as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler for nearly eight hours on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter. Each of the 11 other finalists will have her likeness carved in butter during the fair, as well. This year marks the debut of a bigger and better butter-sculpting booth. The new booth is more energy efficient than its predecessor, and will allow a greater number of visitors to get a good view of the sculpting.
Throughout her yearlong reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Mussman will make public appearances to educate consumers about dairy farmers’ commitment to providing wholesome milk and dairy product and caring for their animals and the land.
Here’s an interesting announcement. Elanco has signed an agreement to buy the worldwide rights to Posilac from Monsanto. The deal includes the product’s supporting operations. I hope they have good luck with it. There sure are a lot of activists against it. I don’t think they’ve got any scientific basis for their fears but sometimes perception is reality. I sure don’t mind the product and think it’s perfectly safe.
“Global dairy demand is increasing, outstripping supply, and consumers are seeing rapidly rising prices,” said Jeff Simmons, president, Elanco. “With the purchase of Posilac, Elanco can enhance its overall product portfolio and work together with the industry to provide dairy farmers more options and give consumers affordable choices. Critically, we remain focused on the health and care of the cow in working with farmers to increase global milk supply.
“With our rich history and experience in the dairy industry, Elanco is the ideal steward of this vital technology,” Simmons said. “Elanco remains committed to using science to address the growing need for safe, affordable food, and to choices for consumers, retailers and producers.”
Elanco has exclusively sold sometribove outside of the United States for a decade. Posilac has been safely used for more than 14 years. (more…)
I really like the idea of Rabobank producing an audio podcast of their news releases. (If you’d like this done for your company or organization then give the ag experts at ZimmComm New Media a call.)
Here’s what the latest RaboCast is about:
Since 1937 June has been Dairy Month: an annual tradition to celebrate the dairy industry. A new Rabobank podcast examines some causes for this celebration, such as growth in specialty products and an increase in dairy exports.
In the podcast, Rabobank Dairy Analyst and Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory Managing Director Debbie Perkins, explores the current U.S. dairy market, the growth of specialty products and export opportunities. (The full podcast is available online at www.RabobankAmerica.com/Rabocast.)
Organic milk from pasture-fed cows is believed to be full of nutrients. A study recently published from Newcastle University in the UK suggest that cows that graz on fresh pasture produce milk with higher levels of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids, such as omega-3’s.
“Grazing dairy cows on grass or grass and clover swards produces milk with a healthier fatty acid profile and higher levels of fat soluble vitamins and antioxidants,” notes Gillian Butler, livestock project manager for the Nafferton Ecological Farming Group at Newcastle University, who led the study.
This study points to the diet of organic cows — fresh grass and clover — as the major reason for these nutritional benefits.
“This study joins a growing body of science indicating strong links between what we feed our farm animals and the nutritional quality of what they feed us. Not only are you what you eat, but you are what what you eat eats too,” says Michael Pollan, author of the best sellers The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food.
The Cornucopia Institute released this study. The farm and food policy research group based in Cornucopia, Wisconsin, says consumers can be confident that “the vast majority of brand name organic milk comes from cows that were given the opportunity to graze on fresh pasture whenever possible.”
The Milk Processor Education Program has named its 2008 SAMMY Award winners. Twenty-five teens are receiving the $7,500 Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award. A record-breaking 65,000 students entered the contest.
The winners are unsurpassed when it comes to top-notch performance in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.
The 2008 SAMMY Award winners will join a distinguished group of fellow SAMMY alumni and celebrities in the Milk Mustache campaign who serve as inspiring role models to teens across the country.
Winners will receive a $7,500 college scholarship and join Michelle Kwan and Avery Johnson for an award ceremony and induction into the SAMMY Hall of Fame at The Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports(R). Each of the 25 winners also will grace the pages of the USA Today on June 27th with their very own special-edition Milk Mustache ad, joining the ranks of Milk Mustache celebrities from Rihanna and Taylor Swift to Vince Carter and Michael Strahan.
The SAMMY scholarships are given once a year to 25 college-bound high school seniors. Information for the 2009 SAMMY Award program is available online.
Summer marks a season of dairy-related activities and events in Minnesota. Now residents can keep up with dairy and the nearly 5,000 Minnesota dairy families at ExploreDairy.com.
ExploreDairy.com is designed to provide a complete rundown of summertime dairy activities, and give Minnesotans a closer look at what the state’s farm families are up to. If you’re looking for memorable things to do this summer, if you’ve ever wondered about life on a farm, or if you’d like to learn more about the people who produce the milk, butter, cheese, ice cream and yogurt we enjoy every day, stop by ExploreDairy.com.
ExploreDairy.com will be updated throughout the season with the latest news and information about all of Minnesota’s dairy-related events. For more information.
The website will also feature recipes, videos and a ‘Dairy Diary’ blog.
Diesel consumers wanting to alleviate soaring fuel prices and high grocery bills should consider using biodiesel. The Missouri Soybean Association says biodiesel helps extend the nation’s limited fuel supply. Plus, it creates an abundance of livestock feed.
The states House Transportation Committee recently held a hearing on legislation that would require all diesel fuel sold in Missouri to be blended with 5 percent biodiesel fuel. Dave Drennan, executive director of the Missouri Dairy Association, testified in support of the biodiesel legislation.
As more soybeans are crushed to meet the demands of biodiesel producers, more soybean meal is made available to livestock producers in greater quantities… By increasing the supply of soybean meal, biodiesel helps dairy producers keep costs down, said Drennan.
High fuel prices have also impacted dairy prices. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, 85 percent of all products that are produced and purchased in the state are shipped by diesel-powered trucks. Despite local dairy production, Missouri is a milk-deficit state and imports 1.7 billion pounds of milk from other states each year.
According to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, rising usage of soybean oil to produce biodiesel has strengthened soybean oil prices while weakening soybean meal prices. This means more livestock feed is available at lower prices. Soybean meal is created when soybeans are crushed to extract the oil needed for biodiesel. Soybean oil is the only part of the soybean needed to produce biodiesel. For every gallon of biodiesel that is produced, 4 gallons of livestock feed are created.
At the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch program there is a session called the Issues Forum in which ag groups make representatives available for interviews. During this session I interviewed Sarah Olson, Communications Coordinator, National Milk Producers Federation. Sarah is relatively new to NMPF and says that as they look to the future, communications will change. For example, she says they’re taking a close look at social communications mechanisms like blogs.
Besides my interview with Sarah, this week’s program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s called “Song Writers With No Issues” by The Dubois. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 169 (13 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:
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The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes
We love the commercials and now the website is more fun too. GOT MILK?, known for its quirky, yet memorable TV commercials, has given its Web site a face lift, providing it with an online presence to match its onscreen reputation. The new www.gotmilk.com, produced by the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creators of GOT MILK?, showcases an entertaining, integrated online health resource for consumers. The interactive Web site features eye-catching flash animations graphics and better navigational tools to make it easier for visitors to surf the site. Besides its visually captivating appeal, the site delivers the positive message of milk as a super drink: strengthening bones, muscles, hair, nails and teeth and even reducing some of the symptoms of PMS.
When visitors log on to www.gotmilk.com, they are welcomed by a “milk contraption” where a steady stream of the super drink flows. On the home page, consumers can navigate through a series of interactive games highlighting the health benefits of milk. These games feature a beaver, for example, who teaches visitors about milk’s teeth strengthening qualities, or an owl who informs consumers that drinking milk before sleep could help them get extra z’s at night. A drop down “related content” menu would also pop-out, giving consumers access to milk-related studies, articles and delicious low-fat recipes.
The Dairy Council of California says flavored milk does a child’s body good. That’s because, children drink up when chocolate, strawberry or vanilla is in the cup.
Kids and teens, pour yourselves a tall one. Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry milk, that is. New research shows that drinking flavored milk increases overall milk intake and improves nutrition without adding extra weight.
A study of nearly 8,000 children and adolescents published in this month’s Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that those who included flavored milk in their beverage selection actually drank more milk overall — both flavored and plain — when compared to peers who only drank plain milk. Because milk is a good source of calcium and potassium, two “nutrients of concern” lacking in the diets of most Americans, drinking more milk leads to better nutrition.
“These findings should come as a relief for parents torn between serving their children foods that taste good and those that are good for them,” said Andrea Garen, M.A., R.D., with Dairy Council of California. “At home and at school, flavored milks provide the nutrients your child needs without increasing risk of obesity.”
This study reviewed overall diet and found no significant difference in added sugar intake between flavored milk drinkers and non-drinkers in the study. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) measures of milk drinkers were comparable to, or even lower than those who did not drink milk.
Forage Forum features “news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition.” It’s kind of interesting that a seed company provides this kind of service for dairy producers - and that is the topic of this week’s podcast as Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer discusses to company’s integrated forage approach and the expertise available to producers.
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Bill Mahanna on Integrated Forage Program (4:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click Livestock Nutrition and Forage Blog.
Stephanie Nussbaum, 18, of Garretson was crowned the 54th South Dakota Dairy Princess in a ceremony Wednesday, March 19, 2008, during the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls. Norling was one of four candidates for the title, which carries with it a $1,000 scholarship from the dairy princess program sponsor, Midwest Dairy Association – South Dakota Division.
Nussbaum is the daughter of Brad and Monica Nussbaum and is a student at South Dakota State University studying dairy production and ag business. During the next year, Nussbaum will represent the state’s dairy farmers at events and appearances to help explain dairy farmers’ commitment to good stewardship, animal care and wholesome products.
Among her first appearances is the Kids Zone at the Central Plains Dairy Expo, where local elementary students will learn more about the dairy industry.
First runner-up in the contest was Ashley Vostad, 20, of Volga. Her parents are Ann and Kevin Vostad. Vostad attends Kansas State University with a major in ag communications and animal science. She received a $500 scholarship from Central Plains Dairy Expo.
The World Dairy Expo has elected some new leaders at their recent annual meeting as follows:
President: Mike Holschbach, Heatherstone Enterprises, Inc., Baraboo
Vice President: Phil Niemeyer, Nasco, Vice President, Fort Atkinson
Secretary/Treasurer: Dean Hermsdorf, Vita Plus Corporation, Cottage Grove
Also serving on the Executive Committee are:
John Dalton, Daltondale Farms, Hartland. Ray Kuehl, Purebred Breeders of World Dairy Expo, Waunakee; Roger Ripley Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo; Bill Barlass, Barlass Jerseys, Janesville; and Bob Kaiser, University of Wisconsin Extension, Juneau. World Dairy Expo General Manager, Mark Clarke and Will Hughes of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
Holschbach succeeds Roger Ripley as president of the board. Ripley, who is the President and CEO of Accelerated Genetics, has served on World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors since 1985. A member of the Executive Committee for 16 years, he served as board president for the past six years.
Re-appointed to serve second terms are: Brian Haugh, Dallas, Texas and Michael A. Krueger, Phoenix, Ariz.
Re-appointed to serve a first term after filling a vacancy lasting less than 18 months is: Jay B. Simon, Stockton, Calif.
Newly appointed are: James F. Walsh, Lynnfield, Mass.; Michael R. Smith, Lakeland, Fla.; and Steven M. Turner, Covington, Tenn.
Newly appointed to fill vacancies lasting less than 18 months are: John R. Zuroweste, Dallas, Texas; Charles S. Mayfield, Jr., Athens, Tenn.; and Janey K. Thornton, PhD., Elizabethtown, Ky.
Terms for these appointees begin July 1, 2008, and expire June 30, 2011, except for Mssrs. Zuroweste and Mayfield, and Dr. Thornton, who are filling vacant positions with less than 18 months remaining and whose terms expire June 30, 2009. All appointees will be seated at the board meeting July 17-19, 2008.
While I’m on the subject of World Ag Expo I’ve got another report from Bill Baker, Dairyline. He spoke with Carolina Evangelo, Western Dairy Business Magazine, about the seminars she’s worked on coordinating for dairy producers who are attending.
Carolina provides a comprehensive overview of all the awards and sessions they’ve got like one today on Milk Marketing Tools.
You can listen to Bill’s interview with Carolina here:
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Out at the World Ag Expo, Bill Baker is hard at work for Dairyline. Bill has been supplying our World Dairy Diary site with a weekly dairy markets wrapup almost since we started it.
Jim says that dairy producers are wondering if CWT has enough money to be effective this year and he says the answer is yes. He says they’re on display at World Ag Expo to get more producers to sign up.
You can listen to Bill’s interview with Jim here:
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The Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year was named by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today Magazine. Pictured are (l-r) The Fletcher family (Tyler, Melissa, Mikala and Charles) accept congratulations from IDFA Secretary Mike Reidy and Dairy Today Editor Jim Dickrell.
KBC Farms in Purdy, Mo., a member of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA), was named the Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year. Operations Manager Charles Fletcher and his family received the award on Jan. 21 at the 2008 Dairy Forum in La Quinta, Calif. The award is co-sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today magazine.
The award recognizes U.S. dairy producers who apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater on-farm productivity and improved milk marketing.
“DFA is proud of Charles and congratulates him and his family on this accomplishment,” says Randy Mooney, of Rogersville, Mo., first vice chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. “Charles and his family farm are a real success story. We can all be inspired by his example of innovation and excellence.”
Charles operates KBC Farms with his family, where they milk 600 cows on two pasture-based dairies. His father, Gene, started the farm in 1969, and started a partnership with his sons and son-in-law in 1993. Charles is the managing partner and farms with his wife, Melissa, and their children: Tyler, 15 and Mikala, 10.
Don’t worry. It’s not as bad as it sounds. Kemps Dairy in St. Paul, MN is promoting better health with its new milk product that contains Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil.
The new line of premium half-gallons, Kemps Plus Milk, is now available in grocery stores throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Omega-3 fatty acids provide a variety of health benefits, including maintaining cardiovascular health and supporting brain growth and development.
“Kemps created the new line of Plus Milk in response to some of the most prevalent health problems facing people in the United States today,” states Rachel Kyllo, Kemps’ vice president of marketing. “For example, one in three American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease. New Kemps Plus Healthy Lifestyle Milk can help consumers maintain their cardiovascular health.”
Kemps Plus Milk is a Kemps Select product — made with milk from cows that have not been treated with rBST growth hormone.
Yep, more farm podcasting going on. There must be something to this. Someone must be listening.
Here’s the feed to subscribe with.
DairyLine is America’s only dairy news network, with over 90 radio stations, 11 weekly newspapers and FREE daily updates right here on the worldwide web at dairyline.com. DairyLine is part of the DairyBusiness Communications family.
There’s a reason we were taught in college journalism classes to “never work with animals or small children.” In this video from the Pentagram website you’ll see what I’m talking about.
I’ve watched this done now quite a few times at livestock shows. I don’t envy DJ the challenge of working with a prima donna who’s only interested in the feed bucket.
DJ Stout has redesigned the magazine Dairy Today that is launching this month. In addition to a bold new logotype, the magazine will feature a stylized “portrait” of a dairy cow on the cover of each issue in an effort to differentiate it from its competitors. This is the second dairy magazine and the sixth agricultural trade publication Pentagram’s Austin office has redesigned. Stout and his team previously reworked three magazines for the American Quarter Horse Association, Dairy Herd Management magazine and Drovers magazine (about the beef industry).
Here’s the new Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She’s Kristy Mussman, a 19-year-old college student from Claremont, MN. Her crowning took place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
Here’s an interesting announcement. 
I really like the idea of Rabobank producing an audio podcast of their news releases. (If you’d like this done for your company or organization then give the ag experts at ZimmComm New Media a call.)
At the 
We love the commercials and now the website is more fun too.
Forage Forum features “news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition.” It’s kind of interesting that a seed company provides this kind of service for dairy producers - and that is the topic of this week’s podcast as Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer discusses to company’s integrated forage approach and the expertise available to producers.
Stephanie Nussbaum, 18, of Garretson was crowned the 54th South Dakota Dairy Princess in a ceremony Wednesday, March 19, 2008, during the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls. Norling was one of four candidates for the title, which carries with it a $1,000 scholarship from the dairy princess program sponsor, 
The 
Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer announced the appointment of three incumbents and six new members to the 
While I’m on the subject of World Ag Expo I’ve got another report from Bill Baker, 
Out at the World Ag Expo, Bill Baker is hard at work for 
The Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year was named by the 
Bill Baker at 
There’s a reason we were taught in college journalism classes to “never work with animals or small children.” In this video from 
Cool Interactive Ideas in new media was the topic of a NAMA Boot Camp presentation by Erin Holte, Martin Williams.
